CLASS PISCES. 105 



Genus OSMERUS, Artedi. 



Osmerus eperlanus, Lacepede. SMELT OR CUCUMBER SMELT. 



Considerable numbers of this delicious fish are caught in 

 all our rivers when they come up to -spawn. Their peculiar 

 cucumber-like scent is well known : hence the name. This 

 distinguishes them at once from the worthless Atherine, a fish 

 very similar in general appearance, but having no adipose fin. 



Genus COREGONUS, Artedi. 



Coregonus oxyrhynchus, Rondel ROUTING. 



Of this apparently-rare British fish, I saw, in 1886, several 

 examples which had been captured in the smelt nets in the 

 Colne. As it is frequently seen in boxes of Dutch Smelts, it is 

 probably much more common in Holland than in this country. 

 This is rather strange, when we consider the nearness of the 

 Dutch coast. 



Genus THYMALLUS. Cuv. 



Thymallus vulgar! s, Niks. GRAYLING. 



This is said to occur in the Gam, and may possibly be an 

 inhabitant of that part of this river which rises in, and flows 

 through, Essex. Dr. Day says (fishes of Great Britain, vol. 

 ii., p. 135) 1470 fry were placed in the Lea in 1863. I have 

 not heard of the capture of any of them, but we must hope 

 they are still doing well. 



Family ESOCID^, Day. 

 Genus Esox, Artedi, Cuv. 



Esox lucius, Linn. PIKE. 



This, the gamest of our Essex fresh-water fish, is found in 

 all parts of the county, both in rivers and ponds. It some- 

 times attains to a very large size in the Stour. In the 

 Distillery ponds, at Colchester, it has been known to destroy 



